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About this project

The desert plague is spreading from the East: a reminder of a destructive past.

Man has evolved since the wars of old, creating new ways to combat this deadly expanse.

Using Steel and Steam, man fights this terror, as well as the monsters that spawn from its touch.

Now covering half the continent of Terra Corpus, the desert’s slow and steady hunger is threatening to consume and corrupt all life in the world.

Some of the desperate seek out legends of the past: elemental guardians said to sleep inside the planet.
Once resurrected, these powerful beings can be controlled, and guided to stop the desert.

The legends speak of a chosen few who have the ability to tame these elemental beings and reshape the world.

Our story begins with one such person.

What is Steel & Steam, and why is it on Kickstarter?

Steel & Steam is a retro fantasy steampunk
JRPG taking place in a large scale world.

Fans of this genre have high expectations. Our goal is to
greet them with great characters, a hot new world to explore (literally and
figuratively), and a great story experience.

To make travelling this world the best retro JRPG game
experience hitherto known to man or woman, we need to hire the additional
talent required to help make this game as good as it is in our heads.

We have already completed many portions of the game, but
we need your help to finish the rest.

For example, the art concepts being used in our demo have
been created by a small but very talented group of volunteer artists who are helping us
make this game around their busy schedules. However, we could really use a single artistic hand to keep the art
style and visual flow of the game consistent. Thus, we are aiming to bring a lead
artist on board who can make that happen.

Why will you love Steel & Steam?

Steel & Steam takes the best elements from the fantasy JRPG’s of old, such as great stories, awesome characters, and classic monsters, and combines them with a touch of steampunk. It’s like taking Lord of the Rings and mixing in the Wild West.

It’s a game where you, the player, decide how to interact with the game. The classic games usually had a linear, player-focused story moving the game forward. Steel & Steam follows this model, but also gives you the option of moving the story forward through multiple, intertwined story lines. Any character you meet has the potential to affect the end. Will you or will you not save the world? Who you interact with, and how, will affect the way the ending is played out. Whatever happens in one city or town can affect another. These choices give additional life to the world of Steel & Steam.

Who are the main heroes of Steel & Steam?

Noah Phoenix, age 19, 5’10, 170lbs. Favorite weapons: sword, axe or pistol. Protective wear: shirts, light, medium and heavy coats.
Noah is an adventure junky; he likes to jump in feet first, while searching for the next mystery around the corner. After a short stint with the Silver Head City Guard, Noah decided to move on as a freelancer. Without Alyssa to watch his back, he probably would have already bitten off more than he could chew.

Alyssa Noble, age 21, 6’3, 200lbs. Favorite weapons: fists, clubs or rifles. Protective wear: shirts, light, medium, and heavy corsets.
Alyssa grew up learning how to fight by protecting her father’s caravans. She likes to step back and assess the situation, before laying it out cold with a good punch. Noah’s best friend and protector, she believes that if she wasn’t around to watch Noah’s back, he would have been killed long ago.

Here is an idea of some of the things you can expect from Steel & Steam:

• A PC release: The game will be released for PC.

• A huge world to explore: The game is being designed as an immersive fantasy world. Cities and towns will be full of people and buildings to engage with, with story lines that characters can choose to follow regarding the history and current state of affairs that affect the day to day lives of the people who live here.

• An engaging story: An episodic story that involves two main heroes, with an epic conclusion.

• Choose your story: You have the chance to complete side missions that change how you interact with the world of Steel & Steam. From changes to the characters you meet, all the way down to changes in the very landscapes you encounter, the side missions provide extra depth that unlocks new stories and opportunities to earn experience without the grind.

• Retro style gaming at its finest: Remember the glory days when games told epic stories? Steel & Steam is a retro RPG similar to the classic RPG games played on the Sega Genesis, NES and SNES systems. Relive the past, relish the future, and revel in the now (insert announcer voice here).

• A little side fun: Want to take a break from saving the world? Then you can also play some mini games, such as fishing or arena gambling (if the stretch goal is met).

• Original soundtrack: An original soundtrack, with mp3 downloads available to all KNOWITALL level (and above) backers (if the stretch goal is met).

DEMO

To whet your appetites we wanted to make sure everyone has a chance at taking a taste test of Steel & Steam! Please try our Beta Demo and give us feedback! You can leave a message here or on our Facebook wall. We want to make sure that this game rocks, and with your help we can make it even better!

Download: Click image below!

Stretch Goals

Stretch Goal Map

Like many Kickstarters, we have a meaty plan full of extra delicious goals after we meet our initial goal. Your help in kickstarting this EPIC ADVENTURE will go towards increasing the overall awesomeness of the game through achieving the following goals:

$10, 000 – Steel & Steam Episode 2 new music and sounds! New adventures need new tunes. January 2014

Extras

Most people don't eat
meat plain. You want to marinate it, brush a little BBQ sauce on it,
or maybe add some ketchup. If you like your meat organic, but want to add
a little more spice to it while it’s on the grill, then here are a few extra flavours
for you:

Because we are huge fans of Kickstarter and the support we've received, we are pledging 5% of all our profits on our game to support other Kickstarter projects.

Risks and challenges

What are the challenges?

The great thing about Steel & Steam: Episode 1 is that the bulk of the work is done. However, we do have a few challenges to overcome in order to make the game the tastiest and boldest experience possible:

1) We must hire the right type of employees, and to do that, we must find the money to pay them. The success of Steel & Steam will be critical in helping us access future funding that will allow us to hire the employees required to make our games faster, and at their full awesomeness factors. Like we said, our goal for our first employee includes bringing a truly exceptional artist on board, followed by a kick-ass scripter/programmer.

2) We have to get our name out there. We have a great game to bring to you splendid peeps, and it is imperative that everybody knows about us and our awesome games. NOBODY wants to become forgotten leftovers, moulding and ready for the dump (cue bummer remix from Team America here), and this has happened all too often to other tremendous ideas and companies. A widespread awareness of Red Meat Games, and Steel & Steam, is what will keep us fresh in the fridge and bold as ever! So, please share our story, pass it on to your buddies, friends, family…tweet it, facebook it, google it…heck, run a mile screaming our name to the heavens and fitocracy it! (I think I am going to do this holding my NERF battle axe and shield today! - Steak) Every bit of publicity and awareness keeps the fires burning bright.

What we plan to do with the funds

The money we raise through this Kickstarter campaign will allow us to continue building an important track record of success, and will help us finish this game and put as much polish on it as we can. It is a great story with fun characters, and your support will help way beyond the monies that will allow us to achieve the goals described. It will also allow us to climb up one more important rung of the track-record step-ladder, which will ultimately open up the doors for procuring the additional funding and support that will make Steel & Steam the game we want it to be.

As well, in helping Red Meat Games complete Steel & Steam, you are also helping bring us one step closer to developing our future projects. We have many more inspired game ideas and stories to share with all you crazy cats, and the success of this campaign will help bring those to you as well. Help us stand as proud members of the successful indie gaming community worldwide, and we promise to keep bringing you fresh, bold games of meaty, delectable goodness.

FAQ

When backing a tier, just add the appropriate amount onto the tier for any additional items you wish to receive. With the help of our pet zombie and the magic of science, we'll make sure to get everyone to fill out a survey at the end of the campaign to make sure we have all the correct items ready for you.

You're in luck! We'll ship our add-on items anywhere in the world! Since we're based in Canuckistan (Canada for you outsiders), we'll be adding some costs for shipping outside of Canada. We have some surprises planned, and we'll follow up/edit this post with the additional costs. The clothing options won't be more than a few dollars, and we're trying to keep the costs down and get the shipping as low as possible!

While the initial launch of the game is for PC right now, we are considering extending the platforms through potential stretch goals. Except for your car. That would distract you from driving and that wouldn't be good.

Thanks for trying the demo! There is a keyboard shortcut to make the game full-screen. Hold down the Alt key and ever-so-gently tap the Enter key, and then you're cooking with fire! If we reach certain stretch goals, we'll be able to provide the game in multiple resolutions & platforms. Make sure to tell your friends so we can make this happen!

That would be awesome news, both for us and for you! If we hit our stretch goal and get to make Episode 2, we'll finish off Episode 1 first, and get that in your hands. Then, while you are exploring the world of Terra Corpus, we'll be working on Episode 2. It will take us some time to finish it, but you can expect it by the end of 2013.

Rewards

Pledge $1 or more

HELPER - Receive a WALLPAPER set for your desktop and mobile device. Also, your name will be listed in the end CREDITS under “Kickstarter Backers”.

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

You selected

Pledge $12 or more

25 backers
All gone!

EARLYBIRD - A copy of our GAME plus the previous reward tier, at an early bird cost!

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

You selected

Pledge $15 or more

52 backers

GAMER - A copy of our GAME plus the previous reward tier!

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

You selected

Pledge $20 or more

37 backers

KNOWITALL - All the previous reward tiers plus the PDF walk through and a PDF of the concept art of the game.

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

You selected

Pledge $25 or more

42 backers
Limited (58 left of 100)

HOMESTEAD - All the previous reward tiers, plus have a HOUSE with a personalized plaque in the game. Anyone who plays Steel & Steam will be able to visit your in-game house, and know that you supported the game with style.

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

You selected

Pledge $40 or more

18 backers
Limited (12 left of 30)

SPRITE - All the previous reward tiers, plus own your own NPC (non-player character) in the world. Have a little version of you, based off a template, to live in the world of Steel & Steam.

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

You selected

Pledge $40 or more

0 backers
Limited (20 left of 20)

IBEORC - Same as the - SPRITE - but you are an ORC! All the previous reward tiers, plus own your own NPC (non-player character) in the world. Have a little version of you, based off a template, to live in the world of Steel & Steam.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2013

Estimated delivery:Jan 2014

You selected

Pledge $40 or more

0 backers
Limited (10 left of 10)

IBELIZARD - Same as the - SPRITE - but you are a Lizard Folk! All the previous reward tiers, plus own your own NPC (non-player character) in the world. Have a little version of you, based off a template, to live in the world of Steel & Steam.

Estimated delivery:Jan 2014

You selected

Pledge $40 or more

0 backers
Limited (10 left of 10)

IBEANIMAL- Same as the - SPRITE - but you are an Animus! All the previous reward tiers, plus own your own NPC (non-player character) in the world. Have a little version of you, based off a template, to live in the world of Steel & Steam.

Estimated delivery:Jan 2014

You selected

Pledge $45 or more

3 backers
Limited (17 left of 20)

WORKERBEE - SPRITE level and below rewards, your NPC is a worker, they have a job and contribute to the world visually, not just in name. Some examples of NPC’s you can be are miners, fishermen, florists or even a worker at one of the open air market carts.

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

You selected

Pledge $50 or more

10 backers
All gone!

MERCHANT - All the previous reward tiers, plus you get to be an NPC shopkeeper in Steel & Steam. Choose a profession, like a blacksmith or basket weaver, and find yourself owning one of the NPC stores in one of the games towns. Your store will also sport a personalized plaque.

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

You selected

Pledge $50 or more

4 backers
Limited (6 left of 10)

MERCHANT EPISODE 2 - All the previous reward tiers, plus you get to be an NPC shopkeeper in Steel & Steam. Choose a profession, like a blacksmith or basket weaver, and find yourself owning one of the NPC stores in one of the games towns. Your store will also sport a personalized plaque.

Estimated delivery:Jan 2014

You selected

Pledge $60 or more

3 backers
All gone!

WANDERER - SPRITE level and below rewards, your NPC is a wanderer, not stuck to the confines of the city's, randomly wandering the world of Steel & Steam. While traveling the world you have picked up good advice and some helpful items to share with fellow travelers.

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

You selected

Pledge $60 or more

2 backers
Limited (3 left of 5)

WANDERER EPISODE 2 - SPRITE level and below rewards, your NPC is a wanderer, not stuck to the confines of the city's, randomly wandering the world of Steel & Steam. While traveling the world you have picked up good advice and some helpful items to share with fellow travelers.

Estimated delivery:Jan 2014

You selected

Pledge $75 or more

If you ever wanted to be so famous they were naming weapons after you, then this is your chance. Customize the equipment stats and look of your item. (This reward will be chosen from a pool of weapons.)

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

You selected

Pledge $75 or more

0 backers
Limited (5 left of 5)

BLACKSMITH EPISODE 2 - SPRITE level and below rewards, plus create a LEGENDARY ITEM! If you ever wanted to be so famous they were naming weapons after you, then this is your chance. Customize the equipment stats and look of your item. (This reward will be chosen from a pool of weapons.)

Estimated delivery:Jan 2014

You selected

Pledge $85 or more

2 backers
All gone!

EXPERT - SPRITE level and below rewards, plus you are one of the ultimate shopkeepers, you do not just stick to one town or place, you setup shop where ever the hero’s go. You are like mobile Cheers, where everyone in the world knows your name. Even the villains buy sandwiches from your cart. You and the other Expert are childhood rivals.

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

You selected

Pledge $100 or more

2 backers
All gone!

STATUESQUE - SPRITE level and below rewards, plus have a STATUE of you in one of the game's two towns. You will be remembered in history as that town's local hero!

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

You selected

Pledge $100 or more

0 backers
Limited (6 left of 6)

STATUESQUE EPISODE 2 - SPRITE level and below rewards, plus have a STATUE of you in one of the game's two towns. You will be remembered in history as that town's local hero!

Estimated delivery:Jan 2014

You selected

Pledge $110 or more

1 backer
All gone!

MASTER – SPRITE level and below rewards, plus be the master. Who started the first INN, who made the first item sale, told the blacksmith how to make his first weapon sale? You are the Master; the mysterious person who figured out what was needed to help the adventurers throughout the lands of Steel & Steam, and how to sell it to them. You do not share your wares of knowledge with anyone. Only those with the spirit and the smarts of an adventurer will be able to find you.

Estimated delivery:Oct 2013

You selected

Pledge $120 or more

2 backers
Limited (1 left of 3)

GLADIATOR – SPRITE level and below rewards, plus you are a battler, a warrior champion of the arena. You are one of the reasons people go to the games. Little tykes have posters of you in their rooms.

Estimated delivery:Oct 2013

You selected

Pledge $125 or more

1 backer
Limited (11 left of 12)

RIDER - SPRITE level and below rewards, plus be a hero of the past. One of the fabled Riders of Silverhead. Now statues hidden throughout the world their spirits guarding knowledge of the past.

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

You selected

Pledge $130 or more

5 backers
All gone!

Monster – SPRITE level and below rewards, plus you are beast, a monster, and a terror of the lands! Stupid tasty adventurers, you cannot wait to eat them or to steal their treasures. You will randomly appear in the wilds and cause havoc to those who live in the lands of Steel & Steam

Estimated delivery:Oct 2013

You selected

Pledge $150 or more

3 backers
All gone!

QUESTER - SPRITE level and below rewards, plus make you very own QUEST in Steel & Steam (within guidelines provided by RMG Staff).

Pledge $250 or more

1 backer
All gone!

APPRENTICE - SPRITE level and below rewards, plus spend a day making a simple RPG with the President of Red Meat Games, Christo Stassis (aka Steak), and have your game hosted on RMG's website for the world to see.

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

You selected

Pledge $500 or more

1 backer
All gone!

ADVENTURER - SPRITE level and below rewards, plus be a part of the Steel & Steam story itself! Join the adventure and create a CUSTOM CHARACTER based on your looks or character design. We'll work with you to get a representative character in the game, complete with name, story elements and abilities. (Must provide own transport and accommodations to St. John's, NL, but Skype works as well.)

Estimated delivery:Sep 2013

You selected

Pledge $1,250 or more

0 backers
Limited (10 left of 10)

WELLDRESSED - SPRITE level and below rewards, plus own a custom made version of the hero, NOAH'S, TRENCH COAT, made by the crazy awesome people of Abbyshot Clothiers
(www.abbyshot.com)!

Estimated delivery:Jan 2014

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

Pledge $5,000 or more

0 backers
Limited (3 left of 3)

LIEUTENANT - ADVENTURER level and below rewards, plus get hugs from Red Meat Games' very own Steak and Pork Belly! (Also, become listed as a Producer.) Be part of the behind the scenes creative discussions, take home a peronalized and autographed copy of the game, enjoy the WELLDRESSED NOAH'S TRENCH COAT made by the talented folks at Abbyshot Clothiers, and join us in St. John's, NL, Canada for our crazy awesome super fun official launch party, with the craziest meat feast ever!. (Must provide own transport and accommodations to St. John's, NL for the party.)

Estimated delivery:Jan 2014

You selected

Pledge $10,000

0 backers
Limited (3 left of 3)

SOLDIERCAPTAIN - LIEUTENANT + ADVENTURER level and below rewards, plus get hugs from Red Meat Games' very own Steak and Pork Belly! (Also, become listed as a Executive Producer.) Be part of the behind the scenes creative discussions, take home a personalized and autographed copy of the game, plus become a major character (Playable Hero or Villain) that is introduced in Episode 2 of Steel & Steam, and threads throughout the rest of the episodes, as well as a unique custom bust of your character, signed by Steak and Pork Belly, enjoy the WELLDRESSED NOAH'S TRENCH COAT made by the talented folks at Abbyshot Clothiers, and join us in St. John's, NL, Canada for our crazy awesome super fun official launch party, with the craziest meat feast ever!. (Must provide own transport and accommodations to St. John's, NL for the party.)

Estimated delivery:Jan 2014

Funding period

Aug 6, 2013 - Sep 7, 2013
(32 days)

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